The mining company Niocan, after having rejected two unsoliciated buyout offers (from Nio-Metals, and Augyva), is moving forward with its project to mine niobium, and possibly rare earth minerals, in Oka. The local residents reject this project, as it is located in the heart of a fertile, prosperous agricultural region, and on Mohawk territory that is still subject to land claim negotiations.

They fear that the enormous quantities of water required to extract the ore threatens the ground water, and that the discharge of contaminated water will pollute local streams. They fear they will have to pay to dig new wells. Even worse, the mining of niobium releases radioactive wastes that may be able to reach the Park of Oka and the river of Mille-Îles where many municipalities get their water supply.

Residents are still living with the wastes left behind by the old St-Lawrence Columbium mine, closed in 1976. Columbium was the old name for niobium. If the new mining project went ahead they would also have to live with the pollutions, noise, and heavy truck traffic.

The Mohawks and the citizens have formed a common front to oppose the project. Last November the Mohawk council, the local citizens committee, and the Outaouais-Laurntides section of the UPA (the Quebec farmers union) submitted a petition with 5600 signatures from people in the region, demanding that the minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and Parks direct the BAPE to create a commission to study the Niocan project in terms of social acceptability. They are still waiting for a response from the minister.

The Mohawks of Kanehsatake say no to Niocan!The residents of Oka say no to Niocan!The UPA of Outaouais-Laurentides says no to Niocan!

Come remind the shareholders of Niocan that their niobium mining project is overwhelmingly rejected by the people of Oka, and the Mohawk community!